Multifaceted support for quality of life in childhood cancer survivors: Questionnaire survey

Abstract

BackgroundAlong with improvements in curative treatment for childhood cancer, childhood cancer survivors (CCSs) often face numerous problems such as late complications of cancer treatment, social issues at school, struggles in employment, and financial difficulties. These children have received a wide range of support from the medical, educational, and administrative sectors. However, it was unclear how this multifaceted support contributed to quality of life (QOL) of CCSs in Japan.MethodsThe subjects were 46 CCSs of 16 years of age or older at the time of the survey, who had been diagnosed and treated for pediatric cancer. A self‐administered questionnaire survey was conducted to investigate the in‐hospital status during treatment, adjustment when returning to school, and administrative social support. The QOL of CCSs was also evaluated by the Medical Outcome Study 36‐Item Short‐Form Health Survey.ResultsTwenty‐four CCSs answered the questions. The respondents who had experienced school‐life problems tended to have lower role/social QOL scores (p = 0.046), whereas the CCSs who had experienced administrative counseling tended to have lower physical QOL scores (p = 0.036). The mental QOL scores tended to be higher in respondents who were informed of the exact diagnosis of cancer during hospitalization. The role/social QOL scores tended to be lower in respondents who advanced to their preferred career path.ConclusionsIt is essential for three stakeholders—health‐care providers, education offices, and public administrative agencies—to collaborate to share long‐term psychosocial issues or concerns related to employment or daily living that CCSs may encounter, and to establish a coordinated approach to support CCSs.